Nicotiana plant named ‘Suntabare’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nicotiana  plant named ‘Suntabare’, characterized by its upright and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Nicotiana×Sanderae.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Suntabare’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nicotiana plant, botanically known as Nicotiana×Sanderae and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Suntabare’.

The new Nicotiana plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new upright, vigorous and freely-branching Nicotiana cultivars with attractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Nicotiana plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2002 of a proprietary selection of Nicotiana×Sanderae identified as code number NC3-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Nicotiana×Sanderae identified as code number NC10-3, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Nicotiana was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Nicotiana plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Nicotiana plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Nicotiana have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Suntabare’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Suntabare’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Nicotiana:

-   -   1. Upright and bushy plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Nicotiana can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Nicotiana differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nicotiana are taller than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Nicotiana and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have dark pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Nicotiana can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Nicotiana differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nicotiana are taller than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Nicotiana and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have dull red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Nicotiana can also be compared to plants of Nicotiana ‘Perfume Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Nicotiana and ‘Perfume Red’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nicotiana were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Perfume Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Nicotiana were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Perfume Red’.     -   3. Plants of the new Nicotiana were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Perfume Red’.     -   4. Plants of the new Nicotiana had darker-colored flowers than         plants of ‘Perfume Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Nicotiana, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Nicotiana.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Suntabare’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of tunical flowers of ‘Suntabare’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the late summer in an outdoor nursery. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and night temperatures averaged 20° C. Plants had been growing for four and five months when the description and photographs, respectively, were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Nicotiana×Sanderae ‘Suntabare’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Nicotiana×Sanderae identified as code number NC3-1, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Nicotiana×Sanderae identified as code number NC10-3, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at             15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and bushy plant habit;             freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 29.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 36 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 21.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 137A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 11.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 144B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             usually about 38 open flowers per plant at one time; flowers             face outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Nicotiana initiate and develop flowers about four             weeks after planting. Long flowering period; flowering             commences naturally during the late spring and plants flower             continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in             Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.2 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 4.4 cm.         -   Tube length.—About 3.9 cm.         -   Tube diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 4.8 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Color: Towards the apex, close to 58A;             towards the base, close to 145B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 2.5 cm. Petal width: About 2.1 cm. Petal shape: Ovate.             Petal apex: Broadly acute to obtuse. Petal margin: Entire.             Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent.             Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 60B.             Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 54B. Petal,             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 60B. Petal, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 54A. Throat: Close to 145B.             Tube: Close to 145B tinged with close to 60B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 9 mm. Sepal             width: About 2.8 mm. Sepal shape: Elliptic. Sepal apex:             Rounded. Sepal margin: Entire; weakly undulate. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,             immature and mature, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color,             immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             Upright to outward. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Stamen length: About 1.9 cm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 2.9 mm by 1.3 mm. Anther             color: Close to 200B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 155B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 3.6 mm Style color: Close to 144D. Stigma             shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to             144A. Ovary color: Close to 144C. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Nicotiana. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Nicotiana have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Nicotiana have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Nicotiana. 

1. A new and distinct Nicotiana plant named ‘Suntabare’ as illustrated and described. 